It is with great sadness that we have learned that Jean-Pierre Swings passed away Monday January 16, 2023, in the afternoon, as a result of respiratory difficulties.
Jean-Pierre Swings was an emeritus professor of astronomy at the University of Liège, Belgium. His scientific research was related to various fields of astrophysics connected to stars, galaxies, gravitational lensing, and space technologies. He was a very active member of important committees related to the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). He was also essential in the framework of the European Astronomical Society (EAS) and of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), being IAU General Secretary between 1985 and 1988. For quite a few years, he was a very active member of the ISSI Board of Trustees, until he had to step down because of health problems.
ISSI has lost a faithful and pleasant friend. We shall miss his numerous and varied deep skills, his smile, his humor, his laughter, his joie de vivre, and the pleasure it was to work efficiently with him.
We express our deepest condolences to his wife, children, and his family.
Georges Meylan
On behalf of the ISSI Board of Trustees, Directorate, and Staff